Rotary engine



No. 749,712. PATENTBD-JAN. 19, 1904.

. ALLEN.

R Y ENGINE.

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ROTAR APPLIOATI llllllll llnlllll'l'l' llnllll-Il No. 749,712. PATENTEDJAN. 19, 1904.

0. W. ALLEN.

ROTARYENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,712, dated January19, 1904.

' ApplicationfiledMayG,1903. Serial No. 155,914.. (No model.) i

To all whom, it may concern/.

Be it known that I, CHA LEs ALLEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Merriman, in the county ofCherry and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rotary Engines; and I do. hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in rotary steam-engines.

It has for its object to provide a suitable motor for driving machinery,&c., and to effect this in a simple and effective manner; and itconsists of the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially ashereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 2 is avertical section of the same with the packing-rolls removed, disclosingmore especially the plates with trunnion-pins or bearings for thesupport of said packing-rolls. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valveor sliding piston-abutment. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of one end of thevalve, disclosing more particularly the means for retaining the packingin position thereon. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached view showing thepacking in the form of rolls arranged within the cylinder intermediatelyof the steam and exhaust ports. Fig. 5 is a modification thereof, moreparticularly of the valve or sliding abutment. Fig. 6 is a modificationshowing my invention connected up in multiple. Fig. 7 is a still furthermodification of my invention in sectional elevation. Fig. 8 is also afurther modification, and Fig. 9 is a detailed view of one of the valvesor sliding abutments of said last-referred-to modification.

It will be understood that latitude is allowed herein as to details, astheymay be changed as circumstances suggest without departing from thespirit of my invention and the same still be protected. l I

In the carrying out of my invention I employ a casing or cylinder 1,adapted to be thereof to the machinery to be driven.

suitably supported" and held in place, the same having connected uptherewith a rotary piston 2, comprising sections 2, opposed to eachother upon opposite sides of said cylinder or casing. Said sections ofsaid piston "are provided upon the inner faces of their outer enlargedportions wlth annular groovesor channels 8, facing corresponding groovesor channels 3 in the casing or cylinder 1, said grooves or channelsreceiving suitable packing 4:, such as rubber tubing, ac. to formsteam-tight joints at those points, said sections of said piston beingmounted upon the driving shaft for transmitting the action The inner orlesser-diametered portions of said piston-sections receive between thesame a sliding valve 5, said lesser-diametered portions of said pistonbeing grooved and recessed, as at 6 6", radially to the axis of saidpiston to receive said sliding valve and permit of the movement of saidvalve therein during the rotation of said piston. The piston-sectionsare also produced with extensions of the recesses formed in the lesserdiametered portions thereof to permit said valve to move from edge toedge of the inner surface of the enlarged portions of said piston toreceive the impact of the steam, said valve also passing transverselythrough an aperture in the shaft and will be further referred tohereinafter. Said casing or cylinder has a live-steam inlet or port? andan exhaust-portS upon opposite sides of its vertical center, preferablyin its upper portion, intermediately of which is provided alubricating-passage 9, said ports being suitably connected up with asteam-chest or with pipes, one connecting with a steam generator orboiler. Within said casing or cylinder 1 are also formed or providedribs or ledges 10 preferably depending upon opposite sides of or planespassing through the live-steam and exhaust ports, adapted to conform toan arc eccentric to the general circle or outline of the chamber of thecasing or cylinder for engagement with the valve 5, carried by thepiston for actuating the same, as in exhausting the steam previouslyacting upon said valve, as will be readily understood. These ribs orledges preferably stop a short ribs stand inward from the edges of saidcylinder or casing in order to avold frlctional 'contact between thesame and the revolving piston, and in order to permit the steam at thatpoint to escape said ribs or ledges are provided with openings or ports5 the steam finally passing out through the exhaust-port. Also it willbe noted that in lieu of the rolls a block of soft metal, such asBabbitt, &c., may be used as packing. It will be observed by thisarrangement that contact and friction between the revolving piston andsaid rolls will be reduced to the minimum, and yet a perfectsteam-tight-packed joint will be preserved. Also it will be noted thatby this arrangement the exhausting of the steam will be effectedgradually from the bases or tapered points of said ledges until theledges are passed at the maximum depth of said ledges.

The valve 5, before referred to, consists of elliptical-shapedreceptaclesor closures 5*,having openings through their bottoms toreceive the cylindric stem or rod 5, said closures or receptacles havingtheir casings produced with slots or partially left open at one side, asat 5, to permit of the expansion or contraction of said closure underthe action of the steam, &c. Within said closure or cups is placed asuitable packing 5 for the purpose of eflecting steam-tight jointsbetween the same and the walls of the chamber of the cylinder or casing.This of course permits of the ready renewal of said packing whenrequired. The,

piston casing or cylinder is provided in its bottom portion with apetcock 15 for the discharge of the water of condensation.

In the modification as illustrated in Fig. 5 it will be observed that inlieu of the valve above referred to I may employ a valve 13,

adapted to stride the engine or driving-shaft,

the operation of which is readily apparent.

In the modification as illustrated in Fig. 6 I have shown the engineconnected up in multiple, a series of pipes 1 1 having branches 14, twoof each being connected with each cylinder or casing in line with thesteam and exhaust ports and said pipes being provided with series ofvalves or cocks 15 15 Said pipes initially receive steam from a boileror other suitable source and adapted to finally exhaust the same afterhaving passed through the series of piston-cylinders. This arrangementpermits of the delivery of the steam to each of said piston-cylindersand the actuation of each of their pistons. Consequently the driving ofthe shaft by each or all of said pistons The course of ments.

the steam to said piston-cylinders is indicated by arrows, with thecocks or valves adjusted accordingly.

As shown in Fig. 7, I may employ a cylinder 16, having two parallelchambers 16 16 with steam supply and exhaust ports 17 1'7 and 18 18,respectively, communicating with said chambers, the same supplying andexhausting, as indicated by two series of arrows. By means of thisarrangement pressure on the shaft is equalized.

In the modification as shown in Fig. 8 I may use in lieu of the cylinderas above described a semicircular chamber 19, having suitable valvedsupply and exhaust pipes 20 21. A wheel 21 in this instance is used,having pivoted or connected to pins 21, secured to the spokes thereof, aseries of knucklejointed levers 22, carrying valves or abutments 23,arranged-to slide in said semicircular chamber and receive the impact ofthe steam. In planes parallel with said semicircular chamber andarranged upon opposite sides of said wheel I arrange plates or disks 24,having opposed cam projections 25, adapted to engage saidknuckle-jointed levers to collapse said knuckle-jointed levers forthrowing the abutments or valves into said chamber in receiving theaction of the steam, said valve thus acted upon driving the wheel, withits shaft, for transmitting the driving power. To retain the valves orabutments, together with their knuckle-jointed levers, after said valveshave been withdrawn from said semicircular chamber in position oragainst deflection by centrifugal action, suitable means is provided forthat purposeas, for instance, by means of a wire or guard 23 spanningthe exposed peripheral edge portions of said valves or abut- It will beunderstood that by means of the aforesaid arrangement of valves thecourse of the steam and its action upon the valves or sliding abutmentscan be readily reversed, thus providing for the corresponding reversalof the action of the piston and its shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A rotary engine comprising a piston carrying a sliding valve and acylinder having upon its inner surface ledges or ribs arranged onopposite sides of the steam and exhaust ports and adapted to formpassages therebetween establishing communication between the cylinder orcasing-chamber and said steamexhaust ports, respectively, said ribshaving lateral openings therethrough near their base and standing inwardfrom the lateral edges of said casing or cylinder.

2. A rotary engine comprising a piston carrying a sliding valve, acylinder or casing having, upon opposite sides of the steam and exhaustports, ribs or ledges arranged eccentrically with the general outline ofthe cylinder-chamber, with their opposed ends or edges spaced apart,said ledges or ribs being laterally removed from the corresponding edgesof said casing or cylinder and having lateral openings or portstherethrough, near their bases, and steam-tight packing arranged betweensaid spaced-apart ends or edges or ribs.

3. A rotary engine comprising a piston carrying a sliding valve and acasing having upon its inner surface ledges or ribs arrangedeccentrically to the general circle or interior of the chamber of saidcasing, and packingrolls contacting with each other and hung between theopposite edges or ends of said ledges or ribs, in contact with saidpiston.

4:. A rotary engine comprising a casing having its interior surfaceprovided with ledges or ribs arranged in eccentric lines with thegeneral outline of the chamber of said casing and having arrangedbetween their opposite ends packing-rolls, and a piston carrying asliding valve, said valve comprising closures or receptacles providedwith suitable packing.

5. In a rotary engine, a piston sliding valve comprising a rod or barand closures or receptacles adapted to receive said bar or rod andsupplied With packing.

6. In a rotary engine, a piston-valve comprising arod or bar andclosures or receptacles supplied with packing and having their casingsopen at one side, said casings receiving the ends of said rod or barthrough their bottoms.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a series of piston cylindersand a series of pistons carrying sliding valves each comprising closurescontaining packing and a rod or bar let into the bottoms of saidclosures and a series of valved pipes effecting connection between eachof said cylinders and with a suitable steam-supply source and adapted toexhaust beyond said series of piston-cylinders.

8. A rotary engine, comprising a piston-cylinder, a valved piston havinga sliding valve, comprising arod and closures containingpacking andadapted to receive the ends of said rod, said rod passing through thepiston-bearing shaft, steam supply and exhaust pipes, adapted to effectthe steam-supply to said pistoncylinder and also to exhaust saidsteam-supply therefrom upon the completion of the rotation of suchpiston.

9. In a rotary engine, a pistoncylinder having upon opposite sides ofthe steam and exhaust ports, ledges or ribs, laterally removed from thecorresponding edges of said cylinder and having lateral portstherethrough near their bases, said ledges adapted to form passagestherebetween establishing communication between the chamber of saidcylinder and said steam and exhaust ports, respectively, steam-tightpacking arranged between the opposed ends or edges of said ledges orribs, a piston carrying a sliding valve adapted to engage said ledges orribs and packing, and valved steam supply and exhaust pipescommunicating With said cylinder-chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES W. ALLEN.

